Gas-stove top.



W. W. SMITH.

GAS STOVE TOP.

APPLICATION FILED APR.2 7, 1915.

1,1,41 Patented July 27, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l- COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH ccv. WASHXNGTON. n. c

W, W. SMiTH.

GA STOVE TOP.

APPLICATION FILED APR.27. 1915-v LHAmm Patented July 27,1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

mihtcsscs CuLummA PLANOGRAPH COqWASHINOTONI D. c.

can STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. SMITH, OF TRENTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO SANITARY STOVE TOP COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

GAS-STOVE TOP.

Application filed April 27, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM W. SMrrH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Trenton, in the county of Mercer and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-Stove Tops; and I do hereby declare the following to be a. full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to stove tops, and more especially to the elevating supports which are adapted to be mounted upon stoves using liquid or gaseous fuel, and in this specification I am making reference to the ordinary gas stove now in daily use throughout the country.

So-called elevating supports have heretofore been applied to the tops of such stoves to conserve the heat generated by the burners, to raise the cooking utensils or lids slightly above the normal level of the stove top, and in some cases to act as a flue for directing the heat of one burner along beneath the top of such support to some other opening therein or beneath the lid which covers such opening. The prevailing objection to these devices as now made and sold is that, on account of the great variety of dimensions in gas stoves in use today, no standard size or sizes of the supports are adapted to the various sizes of stove tops; and the result is that almost always when one is to be fitted to a stove, the latter must be measured for its dimensions and a support made specially and applied to the stove top later; or a support which may be in stock but only approximates the shape and size of the stove top must be used.

The objects of the present invention are to construct a gas stove top attachment of this character in such manner that it may be applied quickly to almost any of the variety of gas stoves now in daily use, which when in place fits the stove top neatly and accurately and is secured thereon so that it cannot be displaced although it could be removed if desired, and which conserves the heat generated by the stove without acting as a flue.

These objects are carried out by constructing my improved stove top or elevating support in units or sections including a main section of standard width and preferably Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1915.

Serial No. 24,290.

provided with two openings having their lids, a filler section made in a variety of widths so that one of the proper width may be interposed between two of said main sections to space the holes of the latter directly above the burners, and side sections which may be employed along the outer sides of the main sections when necessary.

Further details of the invention, including the manner of assembling the units or sections, are explained in the following specification and shown in the drawings where- 1n Figure 1 is a perspective view of this improved stove top attachment applied to the top of an ordinary gas stove, a portion only of the latter being illustrated. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the attachment alone. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on the line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4- is a bottom plan view of oneof the main sections. Fig. 5 is a vertical section through a portion of the stove top and through one of the main sections and one side section, showing the manner of attaching my improvement to the stove. is a perspective detail, partly in section, of the attaching bolt and its washer. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation showing one of the notches in the main section. Fig. 8 is a perspective detail of the front end of a filler section showing a tongue for engaging the notch best seen in Fig. 7, one corner of said filler being broken away to show its rib; and Fig. 9 is a perspective detail of the rear end of a narrower filler section, showing how it is slatted for a purpose yet to appear.

Most gas stoves now in use have a grated top G surrounded by a solid frame F, and at certain points beneath the grate, usually between the removable sections or spiders therein, are located burners B which are fed with fluid fuel through a main pipe P, valves V and mixers M. The prevailing custom is to employ burners with the necessary adjuncts in groups or rows of two, one near the front of the stove and valves, and the other farther back; but for purposes of illustration I will in this specification consider a four-burner gas stove in which two of said groups of two burners are employed. Forward and backward of the stove top the spacing of the burners in the many types of gas stoves in use is nearly the same; but laterally of the stove top the spacing of the burners in groups differs with different man- Fig. 6.

from the rear end of the section. 11121111 section also pretterablylhas ciirvedrihs -8 which likewise constitute extensions of ufactures. lVhen an elevating support ora stove top attachment is applied and is itself provided with openingstobe closed by lids. it is immaterial it these openings do not register exactly with the burners in anyone row since the flow 01' heat from a front burnermust be to the rear beneaththe rear opening or lid in the attachment; but transversely of the stove it is important that the openings in the attachment should register center for center with the burners in order to get the direct heat from the latter. Therefore it becomes desirable that when an attachment of this character isapplied to a gas stove, the spacing of itsopenings transversely thereotbe the same as the spacing of theburners. Again, some makes of gas stoves have rather-wide frames F, soineeven add shelves at the sides, and some widen the frames at the rear where they are perhaps provided with upstanding flues Uto carry off the products of combustion. Therefore provision is made for widening this attach- -ment to correspond and for reducing the length of each section'by removing parts of the same'at the rear end, and perhaps even removing parts which would surround said flue.

Coming now to the details of thepresent invention, the numeral 1 designates a main section of this device,-the same beingshown in the present instance as consisting of a flat top 2 havingtwo openings 3 closedby removable lids 1, and at its rearend thistop is provided with slots producing transverse slats 5 which connect extensions 6 of the stove top, the latter being weakened by grooves alining with said slots so-th-at a slat or slatsniay be broken otl orsawed ofi Each the top and connect alltlie slats, the slats being weakened by grooves 9 within the spaces inelosed by said ribs sothat they may bebrokenout when the gas stove has an uppending-flange 10 which is a little wide'r'at its corners than-elsewhere so as to produce what might be called legs 11 adapted to rest .directly upon the frame F of the stove,

leaving a space 12 at other points between the flange 10 and-the frame F and through which-oxygen is supplied to support coinbustion. The provision of this flange causes the -n1ain section to contain a chamber beneath its top to conserve-the heat generated by a burneror burners, but as said chamber is open all around it can hardly be said to be a flue.

The products of combustion within this chamber escape beneath the rear end of thetop of the section. or between its slats i'f-the'latter are not removed. i-it standard intervals each side flange is notched as at 13. The main section ispreferably made of cast iron; and'i't' so the top maybe strengthened by making it alittle thicker just inside each notch 13, as seen at 11 in Fig.3; and also it will be made thicker and flanged at 15 around each lid opening. The flanges .10 themselves give strength to the top, and preferably flare downward slightly as shown. At suitable points the top is provided with holes 16, adjacent which .it is cast with depending feet '17 whoselength is such that they rest on'the grate G when the attachment is in place. At this time-bolts 18 are passeddown through :the holes 116, through the grate, through washers '19 imderlying theylattcr, andreceive nuts 20 beneath their washers; and by this means the entire device is held rigidly but yet detachably onthe top of the stove. In order that each washer may properlylap a pluralityof bars within the grille work or grating Gr, it is-made rather long and has aslot for thereception of the nut 20, as best seen in Fig. (3. The filler section 21 is shown in place in Figs. 1 and and in. detail IH'FIgS. 3,-8-and Its rear end-has extensionslli weakened at intervals by grooves 27 between slats 28 the same as the main section, and betweensaid grooves it has several pairs of depending legs 29all as best seen in Fig. 9. These slats and pairs of legs can be removed in theinaiiner above describedwhen the length of the filler section must be reduced to correspond withthe length of the main sections between which it is disposed, or when the gas stove has an outletflue as already described. An important feature of theprescnt invention consists in making the filler section .111 a variety of widths, in perhaps half inch intervals, andztwo ofsuch widths are illustrated in Figs. 8 and-.9.

The side section 31 is best seen in .1 and 5. It hasa flat top 32. anouter-side flange 30 like that numbered 10 excepting that it is not notched, and a front flange 34 of the shape perhaps best seen at the left ,ofiFig. 1 where one of these side sectionsis indicated. At standard intervals alongdts inner edge it has tongues 85 adapted to enter the notches 13, and whenthis section is used the top of the main section will;be drilled with. a1hole86 opposite eaclrnotch andabolt 37 will be passed down through said hole and through the tongue 35 as best seen in Fig. 5. The rear end of this side section will be slatted to conform with the rear ends of the other sections, as broadly indicated at 38 in Fig. 1. It may be desirable to make these side sections in several widths in intervals of perhaps half an inch.

In applying this attachment to the top of a gas stove having four burners as shown in the drawings, two main sections will be brought into use and their slats allowed to remain if the stove is quite deep, or one or more of them broken or sawed off so that these sections fit the depth of the stove top. The openings 3 in these sections will coincide approximately with the burners B in each row when the front flanges overlie the frame F with perhaps a quarter inch of the latter exposed as seen in Fig. 1. lVhen these sections have been applied and properly spaced from each other laterally of the stove so that their openings are in direct alinement with lines through the centers of both rows of burners, a filler sec tion 21 of the proper width is put into place between the two main sections, its tongues 25 engaged with their notches 13, its front flange 24 then coming flush with the front flanges of the main sections, and slats being removed from its rear end if necessary. If now the device thus far built up is narrower than the lateral width of the frame F, side sections 31 are added so that their side flanges 30 will fill out the space, and side sections of proper width are used to cause their flanges to stand perhaps a quarter of an inch from the edge of the frame F at the sides of the stove, the same as the flanges were spaced from the front of the frame as above described. By preference I make the two main sections and the narrowest filler sections of such dimensions that when these three sections are applied to the narrowest stove top on the market, they will fill it out fully and no side sections are needed. For a wider stove, side sections may be employed, and therefore they may be said to act in the nature of filler sections because they also fill out the space not filled by the main sections. The obvious intention is to have the latter overlie the working part of the top of the stove which is that part which contains the openings directly above the burners, and to employ the filler sections for spacing the main sections properly so that when this attachment is applied it will completely cover the stove. It is even possible to carry it out over shelves if the purchaser should desire, by either using extremely wide side sections or a number of them, or perhaps by employing main sections for this purpose as the presence of the lids 4 is not objectionable. These lids are of any desired construction, and may even be themselves grated, or a set of lids may be supplied with each attachment.

Thus is produced an attachment for ordinary gas stoves which can be applied quickly to them without changing their structure in the least, and which can be carried in stock by the dealer, in sections as described so that the workman can take a number of sections and a few of the commonest tools, go to the stove to be fitted, apply and fit the attachment at once thereto, and take back the sections not employed. When in place, this stove top covers the entire top of the gas stove so that all the heat arising from any burner is conserved if the several lids L areapplied. For instance, assuming that the burner under the nearest lid in Fig. 1 is lighted, the heat rising from it will strike this lid, then flow to the rear within the chamber formed beneath the top of the main section and under the rearmost lid, heating said top and lid throughly, and finally escaping at the rear and between the slats if they remain. It will be found that very soon the entire section is almost as hot as the lid directly above the lighted burner, and therefore the housewife can cook articles anywhere on this section, while she is using gas in only one burner. If she should desire direct heat in both openings, she could remove both lids and light both burners. The space 12 and the notches 13 admit oxygen for combustion, and therefore this device can hardly be said to contain a flue: yet the depending flanges 10 do produce a chamber beneath the top of the main section, with the results just set forth, and at the bottom of this chamber is the grated top G of the stove.

What I claim is:

1. An attachment for application to the top of a gas stove comprising a rectangular top plate having depending flanges along both its sides and across one end, all said flanges being provided with depending legs, and means for reducing the length of the plate on lines near said unflanged end.

2. An attachment for gas stoves made up of units including a pair of main sections and an interposed filler section, depending flanges across the front ends of all sections and along the sides of the main sections, legs depending from said side flanges, several spaced legs depending from the rear end of the filler section, and means for permitting the removal of a portion of each section along its rear end.

3. The combination with a gas stove having a plurality of rows of burners standing beneath its top; of a removable top comprising main sections whereof each has a top plate with openings adapted to aline with the burners in one row, filler sections for spacing the main sections laterally to such alinement, legs depending from all sections-and resting-on the top of the stove to a space their top plates above i't, andmeans forfast'ening all sections in place.

4:. The combination with a gas stove having a plurality of rows-of burners standing beneath its top; ofa removabletop comprising main sections whereof each has a top plate with openings adapted to aline with the burners in one row, filler sections for spacing the main sections laterally to such 'alinement, flanges at the sides-and front end ally, depending flanges along the sides and front ends of said main sections and wider at the cornersthereof than elsewhere to produce legs and spaces between the legs, the

side flanges having notches at standard interva-ls, tongues on the filler sectionsentering'said'notches, and means for fastening i the main sections to the top of the stove.

v6. The combination-with a gas stove having a plurality of rows of burners standing beneath its top; of a removable top comprising main sections whereof each has a top plate with openings adapted to aline with the burners in one row, filler sections for spacing'the' main sections laterally to such alinement, depending flanges along the sides and front ends of said main sections and wider at the corners thereof than elsewhere to produce legs adapted to rest on the stove top and spaces'between the legs, the side flanges having notches at standard intervals, flanges at the front endand legs near the rear'end of the filler sections, tongues on the fillersections entering said notches, and means for fastening the main sections to'the top of the stove.

7; The combination with a gas stove having a plurality ofrows of burners standing beneath its top; of a removable top comprising'main sections whereof each has a top plate with openings adapted to aline with the burner-sin one row, filler sections for spacing the main sections laterally to such alinement, flanges depending from the sides and front end of said main sections, a flange depending from the front end and legsfrom near the rear end of said filler section, feet depending from the top plate of said main sections and adapted to :rest on the grate in the top of the'stove, said plate having holes near the feet, bolts passing through said holes and the grate, and washers beneath the latter and on the bolts above their nuts.

8. The combination with a gas stove including a plurality of rows of burners and a frame-like top and its grate; of a removable top comprising main sections whereof each has a top plate with lid-openings adapted to aline with the burners in one row, filler sections for spacing the main sections laterally to such alinement, feet depending fromthe top plate of certain sections and adapted to row, filler sections for spacing the main sections laterally to such alinement, legs depending from the sections and resting on said frame, legs depending from near the rear end of said filler section, feet depending from the top plate of said main sections and adapted to rest on the grate, said plate having holes near the feet, and bolts passing through said holes and engaging the grate.

10. As a new article of manufacture, an attachment for gas stove tops made up of units-.and comprising main sections each having a row of openings,'an intermediate filler section between two main sections and adapted to space them laterally, side sections adapted to lie along the outer edges of the main sections, means for connecting all said sections with each other, supports on the sections for spacing them from the top of the stove, and means for detachably connecting certain of said sections with the top of the stove.

i 11. As a new article of manufacture, an

attachment for gas stove tops made up of unitsand comprising a pair of main sections each having a row of openings and along its sides depending and diverging flanges provided at standard intervals with notches, an intermediate filler section having undercut edges and adapted to space the main sections and fit between their inner flanges, said section having tongues fittingthe inner notches, a pair of side sections having tongues adapted to enter the notches in the outer flanges of said main sections and the side sections also having depending flanges along their outer sides, similar flanges along the front ends of all sections, and means for supporting the sections from and detachably connecting them with said top of the stove.

12. The combination with a gas stove having a plurality of rows of burners standing beneath its top; of a remo able top comprising main sections whereof each has a top plate with openings adapted to aline with the burners in one row, a filler section for spacing the main sections laterally to such alinement, flanges at the sides and front end of the main sections and at the front end of the filler section, and means for fastening this section to said main sections. 13. An attachment for application to the top of a gas stove comprising a rectangular top plate having depending flanges along its sides, said flanges being cut out to produce air inlets, and means for selectively reducing the length of the plate and flanges on lines across one end of the attachment.

14-. As a new article of manufacture, an attachment for gas stove tops made up of units and comprising main sections whereof each has a top plate with openings, a

. filler section for spacing the main sections laterally, depending flanges along the sides and front ends of said main sections, the side flanges having notches at standard intervals, tongues on the filler section entering said notches, means for supporting the rear end of this section, and means for fastening the main sections to the top of the stove.

15. As a new article of manufacture, an

attachment for application to a gas stove, the same comprising main sections having openings, supplemental sections selectively employed along the sides of the main sec tions for adapting the attachment to the width of the stove top, and means for reducing the length of all sections on selective transverse lines to adapt the attachment to the depth of the stove top.

16. As a new article of manufacture, an attachment for application to a gas stove, the same comprising main sections having openings, supplemental sections selectively employed along the sides of the main sections for adapting the attachment to the width of the stove top, means for adapting the length of all sections to the depth of the stove top, means for holding the main sections in place, and fastening devices between the main sections and the other sections.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM W. SMITH.

Witnesses:

MABEL A. SI-IOYER, JAs. L. GARABRANT.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

